Daytona Beach Vacation Guide

Everyone enjoys a vacation, but when it comes to finding the ideal destination, it can be hard to choose. This is especially true for first-timers who don’t know where to start looking. Well, our Daytona Beach vacation guide will walk you through everything you need to know for an unforgettable trip.

Let’s go from the beach to the city (well, sometimes it’s hard to tell). Packed with one of the world’s most famous spring break destinations, Daytona Beach is a hot spot for tourists and native Florida families alike throughout the year. You could easily lose yourself in this seaside city that embodies the friendly Floridian spirit down to its sunny, sandy shoreline. Now that you are here, though, we’ve got a few things you need to know about this beach town.

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Daytona Beach Resort

Perhaps you have never heard of Daytona Beach. Or, maybe you’ve heard about it in connection with some racing and a lot of partying. Then, again, perhaps you’ve been here on vacation already. If so, the chances are too good you had a wonderful time. This was the purpose of our Daytona beach vacation guide: to provide you with all the information necessary to plan your trip.

Daytona beach is one of the most popular vacation destinations in United states. This city lies on the coast of Atlantic Ocean, has beautiful white sands and is known for hosting some of the biggest beach parties in the U.S. When you go to Daytona beach, it is recommended to find a good hotel and rent a car as traveling around this place can be difficult if you don’t know your way around. There are many things to do in this city and sites to visit which are listed below.

Daytona Beach, Florida is a fantastic destination for all kinds of travelers. Families with kids love the beach, but Daytona also has plenty to offer adrenaline junkies and thrill seekers alike.

Daytona Beach is located between Orlando and Jacksonville on the east coast of Florida. It’s about 1 hour from Orlando and 2 hours from Jacksonville by car. The best way to get to Daytona Beach is by plane; there are many different airlines that fly into Daytona International Airport (DAB).

Once you’ve arrived at Daytona International Airport (DAB), take a taxi or rent a car and start exploring! If you’re just looking for something to do while waiting for your flight, there are two main attractions: The Daytona International Speedway and Embarcadero Center Mall. If you’re planning a trip with children, make sure to check out Seabreeze Amusement Park as well; it’s right next door to Embarcadero Center Mall!

Daytona Beach is a great place to go on vacation. It’s a beautiful beach city with a lot of activities to do and it’s close enough for people from Florida. Daytona Beach has many hotels, restaurants, and stores that will make you feel right at home.

There are many things you can do in Daytona Beach. You can go to the Daytona 500 race track, which is one of the most famous tracks in the world. There are also other races held at this track throughout the year. If you love cars or racing then this is definitely something you should check out while staying there!

There are also many other attractions in this city that you should try out while visiting such as amusement parks and museums like The Speedway Museum which is located right next door to where all those races happen! Also near by is The Museum of Arts & Sciences which offers visitors lots of different exhibits including science related ones such as dinosaurs fossils as well as art pieces from around the world!

Daytona Beach Activities

There are compelling reasons why Daytona Beach is considered the All-American beach:

• Daytona International Speedway, as revered a sports shrine as Wrigley Field and Wembley Stadium, home to SpeedWeeks and the annual Daytona 500.
• Family fun and outdoor adventure opportunities often connected to the 23 miles of Atlantic Ocean beaches — surfing, parasailing, kayaking, paddle boarding, and fishing.
• The celebration of Black heritage and Major League Baseball’s legendary “42” at Jackie Robinson Ballpark, where the famous baseball player broke segregation’s color barrier at an exhibition game in 1947.
• All manner of seafood and ethnic cuisines can be savored outdoors and with waterfront vistas.
• One Daytona combines shopping, dining, and entertainment options. 

Plan your trip to Daytona Beach:

FAMILY FUN

Welcome to the Motorsports Capital of the World.

• Daytona International Speedway
• Attractions
• Free Things to Do

OUTDOOR ADVENTURES

Take your board and your bike from trail to beach to ocean.

• Fishing
• Eco Tours
• Hiking and Biking

BEACH DAYS

At least once in our lives, we should drive and park right on the beach with the Atlantic surf in our ears.

• Beaches
• Driving on the Sand
• Surfing
• Parasailing

ARTS and CULTURE

Daytona Beach, on the U.S. Civil Rights Trail, is where Jackie Robinson integrated professional baseball. 

• Black Heritage
• Museums and Galleries

FOOD

The catches of the day await at a waterfront restaurant.

• Seafood
• Waterfront
• Ale Trail

With Daytona Beach welcoming a continuous stream of diverse visitors – from families to spring breakers to auto racing fans – it’s no surprise that this town caters to a variety of taste buds. Set against the backdrop of the Atlantic Ocean and the Halifax River, it should also be no surprise that fresh seafood (think: raw oysters and gator bites) is never in short supply.

Those kicking off a lazy day at the beach might consider one of Daytona Beach’s brunch spots – including Crabby Joe’s on the Sunglow Pier, where you can enjoy a crab cake benedict while watching fisherman walk by en route to their next catch. Later, take a break from the sand and surf at one of Daytona Beach’s many ice cream parlors. Local favorites (like Cow Lick’s Homemade Ice Cream and Arcade) offer a variety of flavors and toppings to satisfy your sweet tooth. Looking for a fun way to end your day? Head over to Caribbean Jack’s to soak in the sounds of live music and gaze at the gorgeous marina views over cocktails and dinner.

If you’re a landlubber seeking an upscale meal in a laid-back atmosphere, check out Hyde Park Prime Steakhouse; diners say their steak is grilled to perfection. For those coming off a day at the speedway, the ribs and pulled pork at Hog Heaven Bar-B-Q rarely disappoint. This causal, friendly establishment is an absolute must during Bike Week, when you can watch bikes zoom by while enjoying your meal.

Meanwhile, fans of craft beer and artisan spirits will want to follow the Ale Trail. Start with a flight at the Daytona Beach Brewing Company, and then grab a bite at one of the food trucks stationed outside.

SHOPPING

Shop, play, eat, stay at One Daytona. 

• One Daytona
• Outlets and Malls
• Downtown

PLACES TO STAY

From global brands such as Hilton, Marriott and Hard Rock to a friendly resting spot for the family dog.

• Hotels
• Vacation Rentals
• Pet-Friendly

Getting Around Daytona Beach

The best way to get around Daytona Beach is by car, so bring your most impressive set of wheels to roll around this automobile-obsessed city. And enjoy the fact that unless it’s a race day, traffic shouldn’t be problem. Also, remember: you can drive on the beach. For a small daily fee, you can drive and park on the sand in designated places. Consult the Volusia County website for more details.

If you’re flying, you should consider flying into Orlando International Airport (MCO), which is about 70 miles south of Daytona Beach. The Orlando airport has a large terminal with commercial and low-fare flights, and the Daytona Beach-Orlando Transit Service shuttles tourists back and forth. If you’re lucky, you might find a flight into tiny Daytona Beach International Airport (DAB). The Orlando-Sanford International Airport (SFB) is another option, about 35 miles south of Daytona Beach.

Daytona Beach Events

Daytona Beach lies on the world-famous white sands of the Atlantic South. Surrounded by offshore islands, its beaches are well known for their cleanliness and are a popular summertime tourist destination. With miles of firm sweeping sand, Daytona is recognized internationally as the “world’s most famous beach.”

It’s not easy to figure out what’s on in Daytona Beach. The beach lifestyle should be exciting, but creating an agenda of things to do when you’re in Daytona Beach can be overwhelming. Here are top notch events in Daytona Beach you should be sure not to miss.

1. Elite Motorsports

Daytona Beach is one of the world’s great motorsports centers. Every year, 160,000 people or more cram into the International Speedway to watch the Daytona 500, and the track constantly hosts other major contests, so if you love cars, it’s a great place to visit.

2. Miles and Miles of Sandy Beaches

Daytona is also famous for its long seafront promenade. Miles of sand stretches along the town’s sand island, with attractions and restaurants all along the length of the Daytona Beach Boardwalk. If you want to snorkel, swim, sunbathe or play beach volleyball, there’s no better venue.

3. Close to Major Family Attractions

Daytona Beach is an appealing destination on its own, but it is made even more attractive by being an hour away from Orlando. Just drive down I-4; you’ll be at Disney World or Universal Studios in no time.

4. Fantastic Beach Vacation Weather

The climate is undeniably another of Daytona Beach’s attractions. The resort enjoys 230 days of sunshine every year and with an average high of 69 degrees, almost every week brings sunbathing conditions.

5. A Selection of Museums and Galleries to Enjoy

There are also more sophisticated attractions in Daytona than NASCAR and the beach. Head to the Museum of Arts and Sciences with its collection of Cuban art and Coca-Cola memorabilia, or visit the Southeast Museum of Photography, which hosts works by photographers like Alfred Stieglitz and Gordon Parks. Both are cultural delights.

Daytona 500

1. Daytona Speedway: Home to the Daytona 500

If you are a fan of all types of motorsports such as Stock Cars, Sports Cars, Aviation, and Power Boating, you’ll be in speedway heaven. The Daytona International Speedway is home to the Daytona 500, and the Speedway’s newest attraction is the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America. Marvel at 230 bronze sculptures depicting all the inductees of the Hall of Fame. For an entire scope of the facility, take the Speedway Tour, facilitated by open-air trams that coast along 3 and 4 turns in a 31-degree high bank that takes you to the “World Center of Racing.”

2. Daytona Beach Boardwalk: Entertainment and Restaurants on the Beach

The Daytona Beach Boardwalk is home to a variety of entertainment venues and restaurants located directly on the beach. Take your family on a venture at the Joyland Amusement Park: get a rush swooshing down a 40-foot-tall slide or twist, turn, and splash sliding down the 760-foot-high Wild River Log Flume. Float under zero gravity on the Space Shuttle ride, and end a fun day with a pizza, pasta, or sub dinner at the Boardwalk’s Pizza King.

3. Lighthouse Point Park: Explore Wildlife While You Hike

Drive south of Daytona Beach to the town of Ponce Inlet to discover this park. Located in Volusia County, the Lighthouse Point Park is a 52-acre camping ground. It’s home to wildlife such as raccoons, possums, skunks, armadillos, and other shore birds. Take in nature and sneak a glimpse of dolphins and gopher tortoises that visit the shoreline. Try fishing, go hiking on nature trails, spend the day swimming, or view wildlife from an observation deck or tower. For larger groups, the park offers pavilions as rest stops throughout the park.

4. Museum of Arts and Sciences: Home to the Planetarium

Tour the Museum of Arts and Sciences and be mesmerized at the collections on display. At the Planetarium, relax on a reclining seat and take in the 360-degree view of the universe across a 40-foot hemispherical dome. The dome’s three-dimensional perspective and state-of-the-art surround sound will make you feel like you are on the International Space Station, floating in the vast galaxy or flying across Saturn’s rings. Visit the East or West Wing to see the Cuban or Greek Mythology exhibits on display. Check out the museum’s off-site exhibit, too: located on 175 acres of land, the Gamble Place consists of a habitat for wildlife, ancient cypress trees, and azalea blossoms. Explore the cottage and Citrus Packing house built in 1907

5. Daytona Lagoon Waterpark: A Plethora of 12 Water Rides and a Mega Arcade

Go on a full day’s adventure at the Daytona Lagoon Waterpark. Team up and zap your kids in a lazer tag challenge, then zip down a thrilling 70-foot Zip Rail suspended over the park’s Mega Arcade. Go Grand Prix go-kart racing or miniature golfing. The park offers cabana rentals so you can relax and have lunch before your next venture.

6. Walt Disney World Resort: “The Happiest Place on Earth”

This is the largest and most frequented vacation park in the world, and for a good reason – it boasts four different theme parks and a never-ending program of fun for the whole family. The Magic Kingdom exudes classical Disney, while Epcot celebrates a diversity of cultures from around the globe. Hollywood Studios makes movie-making magic come to life, and Animal Kingdom is the place to celebrate the natural world. And of course, your favorite characters are found at every stop along the way.

Daytona Beach Hotels

Where to stay in Daytona Beach

The Speedway – Hundreds of thousands of motorsports fans flock to Daytona’s International Speedway for events all year round (but even more during Daytona’s Speedweeks, held in February). The Speedway itself is located a few miles inland, near the airport, and is surrounded by family attractions like Go-Karts and the Daytona 500 Experience. If you’re a racing fan, there’s hardly any reason to go anywhere else.

Popular Neighborhoods in Daytona Beach

Downtown Daytona Beach – If you want to be close to attractions like the Museum of Arts and Sciences, the Veterans Museum and the Daytona Tortugas stadium, Downtown Daytona is the place to stay. It’s a good base to head to the speedway or nearby beaches, but doesn’t have a beach of its own. For that, you’ll have to head across to the island.

Marine Terrace – Daytona Beach itself is located on a narrow spit of land facing onto the Atlantic Ocean. There are various neighborhoods along Atlantic Avenue, where most of the leading seafront hotels can be found, including Marine Terrace, which may have the best stretch of sand in the resort.